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Telecommunications Tower Proposal for The Pheasant Island.

Residents of Wednesfield North may be interested in the consultation correspondence that your Councillors have received this morning (Saturday) from a Telecommunication company who is seeking to develop a new Telecommunication infrastructure of a proposal for a 17.5 metre monopole with 3no shrouded antennas, 2no equipment cabinets and 1no meter – The Company have informed that their preferred site is in front of The Pheasant Inn on the verge of the highway, in our Ward of Wednesfield North in the Wood End area.

The company is keen to hear what views the Councillors have towards their proposals.

We in turn are keen to hear your views on this matter. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT OR EMAIL ME ON email@philbateman.com

This is the correspondence we received –

For the attention of the Ward Councillors for Wednesfield North

Dear Councillors,

Vodafone Limited has entered into an agreement with Telefonica UK Limited, commonly known as O2, pursuant to which the two companies plan to jointly operate and manage a single network grid across the UK. These arrangements will be overseen by Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd (CTIL) which is a joint venture company owned by Vodafone and Telefonica. This agreement allows both organisations to pool their basic network infrastructure, while running two, independent, nationwide networks. It will also maximise opportunities to consolidate the number of base stations and will significantly reduce the environmental impact of network development. However as you will appreciate mobiles can only work with a network of base stations in place where people want to use their mobile phones or other wireless devices. Without base stations, the mobile phones and other portable devices we rely on simply won’t work.

In light of the above a new base station is needed in the Wood End area, in order to provide 2G, 3G and 4G coverage and capacity for both Vodafone and Telefonica. Having explored a number of options as detailed in the table below, my client is looking to advance a proposal for a 17.5 metre monopole with 3no shrouded antennas, 2no equipment cabinets and 1no meter at the entitled site. In this regard please find attached the draft plans of the proposal in which we would appreciate any comments you may have at this stage. Taking the attached into account the purpose of this email is to consult with you and seek your views on our proposal before any planning submission is made. We understand that you are not always able to provide site specific comments, however, Vodafone and Telefónica are committed to consultation with communities on our mobile telecommunications proposals and as such would encourage you to respond.

Before we advanced the attached site and proposal, it is of note that we have considered alternative site options and discounted them as follows:

Site Type

Site Name & Address

National Grid Reference

Reason for not choosing

1

Rooftop

Long Knowle Primary School, Blackwood Avenue, Wolverhampton

WV11 1EB

E 394094

N 301594

The site provider was approached about accommodating a telecommunications installation however there has been no confirmation of interest or unwillingness to date. Given the time that has elapsed and the attempts to gain some form of acknowledgment, this site has to be discounted as the operator does not have the owner’s permission to use their land.

2

Greenfield

The Bethany Chapel,

Lower Prestwood Road,

Wolverhampton,

WV11 1JX

E 394334

N 301468

The site provider was approached about accommodating a telecommunications installation however there has been no confirmation of interest or unwillingness to date. Given the time that has elapsed and the attempts to gain some form of acknowledgment, this site has to be discounted as the operator does not have the owner’s permission to use their land.

3

Greenfield – SW

Roundabout of Long Knowle Lane, Blackhalve Lane and Pear Tree Lane

Wolverhampton

WV11

E 393734

N 301850

This location is too far removed from the search area to provide the required level of coverage and would impact upon the neighbouring base station sites in the network. Therefore, this site has to be discounted as it does not meet the operator’s technical requirements.

4

Rooftop

Red Lion Pub

Amos Lane

Wolverhampton

WV11 1HZ

E 394050

N 301290

When taking into account the roof shape of the property, its overall building height and the immediate natural and built clutter, it was felt that the building does not lend itself to host a sensitively designed telecommunication installation. A rooftop proposal of significant height and massing would be required to meet the operator’s technical requirements. In this regard it is considered that should a proposal of this type come forward it would be highly visible and out of keeping with the host building and surrounding uses.

5

Greenfield – SW

Outside Red Lion Pub

Amos Lane

Wolverhampton

WV11 1HZ

E 394057

N 301253

An application by Vodafone for a 12.5 metre monopole clad with timber effect (LPA Ref.: – 12/00164/TEL) was refused by Wolverhampton City Council and was deemed unacceptable due to its height and appearance in the street scene.

6

Greenfield – SW

Linthouse Lane

Opposite Ridge Lane

Wolverhampton

WV11

E 394442

N 301544

This site is found on the edge of the search area and given its geographical position would not provide meaningful coverage and capacity to the target area. Therefore, this site has to be discounted as it does not meet operator’s technical requirements.

7

Greenfield – SW

Grass verge of Lower Prestwood Road, near the roundabout with Wood End Road and Linthouse Lane, Wolverhampton

WV11

E394434

N301519

This site was introduced to the LPA, however they considered the location unacceptable as they felt a proposal here would significantly impact upon the open space visual amenities and be detrimental to the street scene.

8

Rooftop

The Pheasant PH, Wood End Road, Wolverhampton,

WV11 1YQ

E394529

N301520

When taking into account the roof shape of the property, its overall building height and the immediate natural and built clutter, it was felt that the building does not lend itself to host a sensitively designed telecommunication installation. A rooftop proposal of significant height and massing would be required to meet the operator’s technical requirements. In this regard it is considered that should a proposal of this type come forward it would be highly visible and out of keeping with the host building and surrounding uses.

9

Rooftop Existing Telecoms

1-7 Long Knowle Lane, Wolverhampton

WV11 1HZ

E393997

N301273

The building accommodates a Telefonica installation in the form of antennas shrouded in mock flagpoles. They are not shareable structures in their current form, in which significant redevelopment would be required to meet the operators needs. In this respect it is considered that an increase in height and a complete change in appearance would increase the visual prominence of this installation on the host building, within the street scene and on surrounding uses.

The Local Planning Authority mast register and our records of other potential sites have already been reviewed, the policies in the Development Plan have been taken into account and the planning history of telecoms in the area has been examined. All Vodafone and Telefonica installations are designed to be fully compliant with the public exposure guidelines established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These guidelines have the support of UK Government, the European Union and they also have the formal backing of the World Health Organisation. A certificate of ICNIRP compliance will be included within the planning submission.

In order to give you time to send your comments or request further information, we commit to allow at least 14 days before an application is submitted to the Local Planning Authority. This 14 day period starts from the date of this email.

We look forward to receiving any comments you may have on the proposal.